Job Title: Head of Mission – Ukraine
Department: Operations
Division: Senior Leadership
Duty Station: Odesa, with travel to NP Ukraine field locations
Line Manager: Executive Director
Line Management Responsibility: Head of Programming, Head of Operations & Security, Finance Manager, Human Resources Manager, Safeguarding & Accountability Advisor
Position Type: Full-Time
ABOUT NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE (NP)
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a global civil society organization that reimagines security and civilian protection in areas most impacted by conflict. We work alongside communities to prevent and interrupt violence through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) and advocate for the wider adoption of these strategies.
NP country programme in the Ukraine operates in a complex and dynamic conflict environment. The Head of Mission is the key leadership role in country responsible for the strategic development, representation, ensuring the implementation of the highest quality, impactful, adaptive programming. The HoM sets creates an enabling environment for values-based leadership, organizational culture, is a champion of NP’s Peer Welfare Programme and duty of care.
THE OPPORTUNITY
As Head of Mission – Ukraine, you will be part of NP’s Global Senior Leadership Team, shaping NP’s presence and impact in the region. This role requires an experienced leader with a strong humanitarian background, a deep understanding of conflict dynamics, and a proven ability to drive organizational strategy. You will lead the mission through program development, operational oversight, donor relations, risk mitigation, staff care and advocacy efforts.
You are a strategic and solutions-focused leader with excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. You excel in representing organizations to high-level authorities, donors, media, and communities. Your ability to manage complex operations, combined with a commitment to NP’s principles, will be crucial to the success of our work in Ukraine.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Leadership & Program Development
- Maintain and communicate a coherent strategy for the long-term development of NP Ukraine, aligned with NP’s global strategic priorities.
- Lead program implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning to ensure impactful and adaptive programming.
- Identify opportunities for expanding programming, securing funding, and building strategic partnerships.
2. Representation, Advocacy & Donor Relations
- Represent NP in high-level coordination and advocacy forums, engaging with government officials, UN agencies, donors, and local partners.
- Lead NP’s participation in relevant country-level coordination mechanisms, such as NGO platforms, humanitarian clusters, and protection working groups.
- Identify and position NP for strategic representation in advisory boards and steering committees to enhance NP’s influence and operational impact (e.g., UHF Advisory Board, Expanded Steering Committee on NGO Platform).
- Develop and maintain strong donor relationships, ensuring sustainable funding for operations.
- Provide strategic direction for in-country and regional advocacy efforts, contributing to NP’s global advocacy agenda.
3. Safety, Security & Risk Management
- Oversee and ensure compliance with NP’s Risk Management Plan, including leading decisions on contingency planning and implementation.
- Monitor and manage NP’s risk threshold, ensuring alignment with organizational policies and operational priorities.
- Assess, inform, and approve NP’s geographic coverage, particularly in areas with evolving risk and threat levels.
- Lead crisis management and emergency response efforts in coordination with NP’s global team.
- Ensure real-time security incident reporting to the Executive Director
4. Financial & Operational Oversight
- Ensure NP’s operations in Ukraine comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Provide oversight of budget development, review, and monitoring, working closely with the finance team to ensure financial sustainability and donor compliance, while maintaining a strong understanding of financial management to make informed decisions and provide effective leadership.
- Oversee procurement, logistics, HR, and administrative functions, ensuring adherence to NP’s policies and donor requirements.
5. People Management & Organizational Culture
- Lead and mentor the in country Senior Management Team (SMT), fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
- Drive diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, ensuring diverse representation in recruitment and leadership development.
- Strengthen staff well-being and safeguarding mechanisms, ensuring compliance with NP’s global policies.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- Minimum 7 years of senior leadership and management experience in dynamic humanitarian and conflict settings
- Proven track record in program strategy, operational management, and donor engagement.
- Experienced leader in complex emergency contexts, including security risk management.
- Strong background in conflict analysis, civilian protection, and stakeholder engagement.
- Demonstrated success in resource mobilization and donor relations.
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills in high-pressure environments.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse groups.
- Fluency in English required; knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is an asset.
Desirable Skills & Competencies:
- Deep understanding of humanitarian principles, international law, and protection frameworks.
- Experience in media engagement and advocacy.
- Proven ability to lead in remote and challenging environments.
- Strong financial literacy and experience in budget management.
NP’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
All NP staff are expected to adhere to the organization’s guiding principles:
- Nonviolence
- Non-partisanship
- Primacy of local actors
- Civilian-to-civilian action
These principles shape our approach to protecting civilians in violent conflicts using unarmed strategies.
SPECIAL NOTICE
Nonviolent Peaceforce is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff at all levels. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. However, all qualified applicants regardless of their gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, or age, will be considered for this opportunity.
Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, people in communities we serve, and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice in the Humanitarian and Development sector.
NO FEE
PLEASE BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT JOB OFFERS. NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR ASK FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (INCLUDING APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, MEETING, TRAVELING, PROCESSING TRAINING, ETC). NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE WILL NOT REQUEST INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
How to apply
HOW TO APPLY
- Interested candidates should submit a CV (max. 2 pages) and cover letter (max. 1 page) through our website outlining their suitability for the role. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Application Deadline: March 13th, 2024 (Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and candidate may be identified before closing date)
- As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment and if successful, participate in an interview process.